terrorism

Beijing on Monday warned that escalating violence by anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, especially against the police, was showing “signs of terrorism” and reiterated its support for the city’s force to take resolute action to crack down on “rioters”, news wires reported.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the two terrorist attacks on police in the Tunisian capital on Thursday, new wires reported, citing the militant group’s Amaq news agency. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in separate attacks, killing one police officer and wounding several other people, the Tunisian government said. The attacks came months before an election and at the peak of a tourist season in which Tunisia is hoping for a record number of visitors.

On Friday, 14 June the European Council adopted two important priority files under the Security Union which are aimed at strengthening EU rules on explosives precursors and facilitating law-enforcement access to financial information.

German police announced it had arrested 11 people on Friday with accusation of having planned an "Islamist terrorist attack". The suspects, whose nationalities were not specified, had plotted to "kill as many 'non-believers' as possible, using guns and a vehicle", Frankfurt prosecutors said in a statement.

The EU's Security Union is slowly building up with 15 out of 22 legislative initiatives agreed so far, the Commission said in its latest report. However, some of the key proposals, such as terrorist content online and the European Border and Coast Guard, still require urgent action if they are to be closed before the European Parliament elections in May 2019. Furthermore, prior to the elections, it is of utmost importance to redouble efforts to fight disinformation and boost electoral and digital resilience.

The head of the Dutch counter-terror agency later on Monday announced there were shootings at "several" locations in the city of Utrecht, with police reporting at least one dead and several others wounded. According to the local media there are three victims. The shooter or shooters remain at large. Police said they were looking for a 37-year-old man of Turkish origin identified as Gokmen Tanis.The National Anti-Terrorism Coordinator announced it had raised the alert level in the Utrecht area to the maximum of five.

New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern said on Monday she would announce new gun laws within days after her government agreed in principle to tougher legislation. New Zealand, a country that has traditionally had very low homicide rates, has been placed on its highest security threat level after its worst peacetime mass killing. Fifty people were killed and dozens wounded in the attack at two mosques in the South Island city during last Friday prayers.

Several people were wounded in a shooting on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, police said, adding that there may have been a “terrorist motive”. PM Mark Rutte said he was “deeply concerned” and that crisis talks were to be held in response to the incident. Dutch radio said security had been increased at the seat of the government in The Hague.

New Zealand suffered its worst mass shooting of modern times, with 49 people dead and more than 20 seriously injured after a terrorist attack at two mosques in the South Island city of Christchurch.According to the latest announcements from the police authorities, a 28-years-old Australian has been charged with murder and should appear in a local court tomorrow morning.

Police in North Macedonia raided several locations on Friday to prevent a potential attack organized by the supporters of the Islamic State, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said it launched the operation after exchanging information with a “partner country”.